QUOTES & REACTIONS
“You get shocked in life and I suppose you couldn't see that
one coming. I thought that defensively we were absolutely
brilliant, they had a lot of possession of the ball but I
felt that we were in complete control.
one coming. I thought that defensively we were absolutely
brilliant, they had a lot of possession of the ball but I
felt that we were in complete control.
“It wasn't a great Manchester United performance but it was
laced with a lot of good play and I think we deserved to win
the match. We have had problems defensively but we did
really well in that area tonight, but we have not reacted to
the rebound and that's the first thing you have to do as a
defender when the ball is going towards your goalkeeper.
laced with a lot of good play and I think we deserved to win
the match. We have had problems defensively but we did
really well in that area tonight, but we have not reacted to
the rebound and that's the first thing you have to do as a
defender when the ball is going towards your goalkeeper.
“Obviously we are out of the European Cup which is
disappointing having done so well and qualified for Europe
so often. We have to ensure European football for next year
but there's no reason to give up on the league - that has
been proved tonight and I don't see how anyone could have
seen what happened in the last minute. We are in the semi-
final of the FA Cup and that will not be an easy game for
either side.”
disappointing having done so well and qualified for Europe
so often. We have to ensure European football for next year
but there's no reason to give up on the league - that has
been proved tonight and I don't see how anyone could have
seen what happened in the last minute. We are in the semi-
final of the FA Cup and that will not be an easy game for
either side.”
Fergie was furious about the disallowed goal just before
half time:
"To be honest I couldn't believe it. You can understand it
maybe if there's one defender and the linesman doesn't see
it, but when there are three playing him onside you cannot
understand it. That would have put us into a very, very
comfortable position at 2-0 up, but then that's football. We
looked very solid but now we have to accept it and bounce
back.
“We won’t know what effect this has on the confidence of the
players until we play against Manchester City on Sunday but
I have had disappointments many, many times and that is part
of the job. You have to react to adversity. You worry when
you are an abject failure, but I think you have to assess
the team and I think we were really unlucky tonight, I
really do.”
Porto coach Jose Mourinho:
half time:
"To be honest I couldn't believe it. You can understand it
maybe if there's one defender and the linesman doesn't see
it, but when there are three playing him onside you cannot
understand it. That would have put us into a very, very
comfortable position at 2-0 up, but then that's football. We
looked very solid but now we have to accept it and bounce
back.
“We won’t know what effect this has on the confidence of the
players until we play against Manchester City on Sunday but
I have had disappointments many, many times and that is part
of the job. You have to react to adversity. You worry when
you are an abject failure, but I think you have to assess
the team and I think we were really unlucky tonight, I
really do.”
Porto coach Jose Mourinho:
“Sir Alex said congratulations at the end and we shook
hands. That's what I like in football. Sometimes somebody is
incorrect, I have done it before and I will do it again, and
sometimes you play with words and try and put some pressure
on the opposition but when the last whistle goes it's
finished, you shake hands and I'm happy with that.
hands. That's what I like in football. Sometimes somebody is
incorrect, I have done it before and I will do it again, and
sometimes you play with words and try and put some pressure
on the opposition but when the last whistle goes it's
finished, you shake hands and I'm happy with that.
“I was also pleased to see so many Manchester United players
in our dressing room afterwards changing shirts and giving
congratulations, the Neville brothers were there and some
others.
in our dressing room afterwards changing shirts and giving
congratulations, the Neville brothers were there and some
others.
“It was an historic victory for the Portuguese side and
would give hope to the whole nation ahead of the European
Championship which the country is hosting this summer. I
told the players at half-time that one goal would put us in
the quarter-finals and that even if Manchester United scored
a second we were still in this round. I told them not to
lose confidence and to play in the same style and then to
prepare for a change of style when I put on (Edgaras)
Jankauskas as a substitute."
would give hope to the whole nation ahead of the European
Championship which the country is hosting this summer. I
told the players at half-time that one goal would put us in
the quarter-finals and that even if Manchester United scored
a second we were still in this round. I told them not to
lose confidence and to play in the same style and then to
prepare for a change of style when I put on (Edgaras)
Jankauskas as a substitute."